Mayor Wright called the council into a presentation about storm damage at the Oak Harbor Marina and staff presented a detailed damage assessment and repair plan.

Harbor Master Elise Henry said the Dec. 16 storm caused failures across the north side of the F-dock breakwater, including missing and partially detached panels and failed through rods. “We have received an expedited hydraulic project approval from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and they have extended the fish window for our project till March 3,” Henry said, noting that finding a marine contractor inside the fish‑work window is typically difficult.

Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith and marine engineer Bill Gerken of Moffett and Nickel described the scope of immediate repairs: raising and inspecting panels that sit roughly 6–7 feet below the surface, replacing through rods, and repairing damaged float components. Smith said the work is concentrated along patio sections 2 through 7 and that panels and rods will be replaced or reinforced to restore wave attenuation. Gerken said the near‑term repairs are intended to extend the life of the existing breakwater while permitting proceeds for a major rehabilitation in the coming years.

Staff indicated costs for emergency repairs should not exceed $500,000 and proposed funding the work from marina reserves earmarked for dredging and breakwater projects. Deputy City Administrator David Goldman confirmed the city’s current marina capital reserve balance available for dredging and breakwater work is $1,655,000 and the marina property deductible is $100,000.

Council members questioned whether repeated repairs are the best approach and pressed staff on when the city should move to a full replacement. Councilmember Marshall asked, “Is there a walking away point where we say, you know, enough repair is enough?” Staff and the consultant explained that dredging to restore depth beneath the breakwater is essential to reduce the stress on panels; once dredging is complete and maintained, repairs are expected to last substantially longer.

Councilmember Romero moved to adopt Resolution 26‑01, declaring the failures to structural components at the marina an emergency, waiving public bidding requirements to expedite repairs and authorizing the mayor to execute contracts for necessary goods and services. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Wiggenstein and passed unanimously.

Next steps: staff will pursue an expedited Army Corps of Engineers emergency permit, proceed with the repairs as allowed under the fish‑window extension, coordinate with the city’s insurance adjuster and begin contractor work (American Construction indicated it could begin as early as mid‑February). Long‑term planning for major rehabilitation or replacement of the breakwater will continue alongside dredging permitting and funding work.